Reappointed housing minister ‘must kill off rent controls’

Welsh housing minister Julie James (main picture) must end any prospect of rent controls in Wales, letting agents have said.

James has been reappointed to the role under new First Minister Vaughan Gething, who was elected as Welsh leader earlier this month.

Decimate

Landlords reacted angrily to a proposed rent freeze or cap in Wales last year, warning it could “decimate” the rental sector.

A Welsh Government green paper suggested a limit on rent increases may help tenants as the cost of living crisis bites hard.

James held the role of Housing Minister before it was abandoned in 2021 under previous First Minister Mark Drakeford, taking on a wider ‘green’ role that included housing.

Julie James must use this opportunity to … end the prospect of rent controls in Wales.”

Now, Timothy Douglas, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Propertymark, says: “Julie James must use this opportunity to listen to concerns from the property industry, and to end the prospect of rent controls in Wales.”

He also said James must prioritise housing supply by reviewing the Land Transaction Tax on additional properties.

“In addition, a key priority must also include Propertymark’s long-term call for a Welsh Housing Survey to help gather better insight for evidence-based policy making going forward,” he says.

Reinstated

“Propertymark welcomes the appointment of Julie James within the reinstated role of Housing Minister, and we are proactively seeking to arrange an initial meeting to help address future challenges across the housing sector in Wales.”

Douglas says Propertymark supports the reinstatement of the position of a dedicated housing minister.

“We have long advocated the need for this to be a devoted role given the magnitude of challenges that lie ahead in Wales,” he says.

“We are also pleased to see that Julie James continues in her housing role to ensure continuity.”